Magnetized valve keeper tool



Oct. 7, 1952 G. J. GILBERT MAGNETIZED VALVE KEEPER TOOL 2 SHEETSSHEET l Filed July 50, 1948 INVENTOR.

BY m

and

George J; Gilbert Oct. 7, 1952 G. J. GILBERT MAGNETIZED VALVE KEEPER TOQL 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed July 30, 1948 George .1. Gi/ben INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 7, 1952 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE 1 MAGNETIZED VALVE KEEPER TOOL George J Gilbert, Lakeville, Minn.

' Applicationinly'ldl, 1948, Serial No.'41,579

2 Claims.

I'his invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in automobile mechanics tools, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate application and removal of so-called valve locks or keepers, such as are commonly employed on. internal combustion engines- These keepers, which are quite smalli, are usually applied or removed while valve: springs are abnormally compressed, and since the location of the keepers is poorly accessible, the applyingor removing operation is a diiiicult task, resulting. frequently in such mishapsas dropping of the keepers into the engine or losing them onthe ground. v

The instant invention, therefore, contemplates to eliminate these disadvantages; this being achieved by the provision of a valve keeper installing and removingtool whereina pair of coacting jaws, possessing magnetic characteristics, are employed for firmly and securely holding the valve keepers untilsuch time as thelatter. are fully installed in or fully removed from theengine. r

, An important .feature of the invention resides in providing the magnetized jaws with a nonmagnetic handle, whereby the tool is prevented to. as great extent from attracting or being-attracted to various components of the engine which are not being worked on. I

, .An additional featurewof the inventionlies in universal mounting of the handle. whereby the tool may be conveniently and eifectively employed in poorly accessiblelocations.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of .a modified handle structure for the magnetic jaws, this modified handle structure being of a resilient character, sothat the Jaws. are normally separated for'reception of valve keepers therebetween.

--A- still further feature of the invention lies in the provision of:clamps on the, magnetic jaws, whereby the lattermay be clamped in position on two fingers of the user's hand in orderrto tacilitate maximum dexterity. i

1 With the; above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement, and construction ofparts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Figure 1 is av perspective view. of the invention, showing the jaw forming, block as being separated from its socket-and handle;

Figure 2 is'a side elevational view of the-invention in its assembled form;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken sub: stantially in the plane of the line 3.3 in Fig,- ure 2; V

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the subject shown in Figure 2 ;v

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view showing; a modified embodiment of the socket and handle structure;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional View, taken sub stanbtially in the plane of the line l-l inqFigjure s Figure 8 is a perspective viewyof a vfurther modified embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 isv a fragmentary side elevational view of: the subject shown in Figure 8;

Figure-10 is a cross sectional view, corresponding to'the'elevationalview shown inFigure 10, but illustrating the jaws asibeing brought together; J

Figure; 11 isza fragmentary cross sectional view, takensubstantially in the planeof the line I, |,.fl in Figure 8 and illustrating the embodiment shown in Figures 8, ,9 and 10 as being employed in a somewhat diiferent manner; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a still fur ther modified embodiment of the invention.

Like characters of reference are employedwto designate like parts in the specification. and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, moreparticularly' to Figures 1-5 inclusively, this invention consists of a valvekeeper installing and removing tool designated generally by the reference character '20, the same embodying-in-itsconstruction a block 22 possessing magnetic. characteristics and provided with asubstantiallyv-shaped recess 24 defining a pair of coacting jaws 26 at the sidesof the recess,substantially as shown.

It isto be noted that the jaws'26'have mutually opposed'suriaces 28 which diverge not only cutwardly as is best shown in Figure 2, but also ion-- gitudina'lly, as illustrated in Figure 4. Moreover. the base .or, apex'of the V-shaped recess 24 isrelieved so as to form a longitudinal channel 30, whereby, machining of the surfaces 28 is faciligtated. v

Itshould be also noted that the jaws. are provided atone end withv inwardly projecting for example, when installing valve keepers, the

keepers are simply applied to the surfaces 28 0f i the magnetized jaws 26 as indicated at 40 in Figure 2, the two keepers preferably being disposed in a juxtaposed relation, so that when the 7 tool, together with the keepers is advanced toward the valve stem 42, pressure of the valve stem against the abutting longitudinal edges of the keepers will cause them to envelop'the valve stem, so that installation thereof will be readily effected. It is to be particularly noted that the jaws 26, by virtue of their magnetic characteristics, will firmly retain the keepers in position until such time as they are fully applied to the valve stem, whereby misplacement and loss of the keepers will be prevented.

The channel 30 in the block 22 as well as the notches 38 in the socket 34 provide sufiicient clearance for the valve stem 42 after the keepers are applied, as will be clearly. understood. It should be also explained that inasmuch as the keepers 40 are usually of a tapered configuration, the surfaces 28 are longitudinally divergent, so that they may flatly engage the outer surfaces of the keepers.

Moreover, since the surfaces 28 are inclined in two directions,=vertically and longitudinally, the longitudinal inclination will enable the surfaces to conform to the usual taper of the valve keepers as above noted, while the vertical inclination will facilitate accommodation of valve keepers of different sizes, over and beyond the range which is encompassed by the taper in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal channel 30 is intended to facilitate machining of the surfaces 28 by permitting the machining tool to reach' the lower edge portions of those surfaces without obstruction. I

When the keepers are being removed from the valvestem, the tool is simply applied in position adjacent the stern and the keepers are manually separated from the stem, while the attraction of the jaws 2B draws the keepers against the surfaces 28, thus preventing their possible loss.

It is to be noted that the flanges 32 will effectively function as rests or stops for preventing the keepers from sliding onthe surfaces 28.

Referring now to the modified embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, these illustrate a modified embodiment of the aforementioned socket 34 and handle 36, the modified structure being illustrated by the reference character 44 which designates the socket, while the reference character 46 indicates the handle.

In this embodiment, however, 'the socket 44 is provided at the base thereof with a ball"48 which is adjustably receivable in a socket member 50 provided at one end of the handle 46, a complementary socket half member 52 being secured in position on the handle 46 by means of a suitable screw 54, so that the two socket half members coact in enveloping the .ball 48, as will be clearly understood. By virtue of this socket construction, the handle 46 may be moved in all directions with respect to the socket 44, thereby facilitating the use of the tool in poorly accessible locations. Needless to say, the socket 44 is intended to receive a jaw forming block, similar to the aforementioned block 22.

Referring now to the accompanying Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, these illustrate a further modified embodiment of the invention designated generally by the reference character 56, wherein the jaws 58 are formed separately 'or individually rather than enblock," and are suitably secured.

*as by welding or the like, to the free end portions 68 of the arms of a resilient handle 62, configurated substantially as shown.

The resiliency of the handle 62 is such as to normally maintain the jaws 58 in a separated position, so that application of the tool to the valve stem is readily facilitated. Needless to say, by simply compressing the arms of the handle 62, the jaws 58 maybe, brought in engagement with the keepers, or alternatively, the keepers indicated at 84 in Figure 9, may be brought toward the valve stem 66.

The accompanyin Figure 11 illustrates a set of two pairs of valve keepers 68 retained in a juxtaposed relation in the jaws 58, this being a modified use of the aforementioned tool .56. wherein the two valve keepers 68 are applied to the valve stem in much the same mannerv as when the too] 20 is employed. If desired, grooved inserts 10 of resilient material may be provided in the jaws 58. for preventing the. keepers in each jaw from collapsing, such inserts being applicable to the various embodiments of the invention as exemplified at 12, 14 and 16 in Figures 2, 6 and 8 respectively. a a i It is to be noted that when two valve keepers are in juxtaposed relation, the substantially semi-cylindrical configuration thereof would tend to collapse them when applied to avalve stem by engaging their inner contiguous edges with the stem, as for example, in Figure 2. .The resilient inserts 10 are intended to properly support thekeepers against such collapsing, not only by the particular configuration of the keepers, but also by the inherent resiliency of the material from which the keepers are formed which discourages sliding or slipping of the keepers thereon. Referring now to Ltheaccompanying Figure 1.2, this illustrates a still further modified .embodiment of the invention designated by the reference character 18, .wherein a pair of independent coacting-jawsBO, similar to the aforementioned jaws 58, are provided with resilient fingersy82 constituting what may be referred to as clamps, whereby the jaws may beconveniently attached to the fingers of the user's hand. In this manner, provision 'of a socket and a handle for holding the jaws is obviated, and it will be found that the jaws may be manipulated by the .users' fingers with considerable dexterity, as will be clearly appreciated. r I

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing disclosure, and accordingly, further description thereof at this pointisideemed unnecessary;

While in the foregoing there hasbeen'shown and described a'preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A tool for installing valve keepers comprising a U-shaped member having magnetic characteristics, said member including a web portion and leg portions, the outer ends of said leg portions having flat surfaces diverging outwardly relative to a plane disposed medially between said leg portions and also diverging relative to the longitudinal axis of said member, inwardly projecting flanges on said surfaces adjacent the longitudinally divergent end thereof, said flanges constituting keeper rests.

2. A tool for installing valve keepers comprising a U-shaped member having magnetic characteristics, said member including a web portion and leg portions, the outer ends of said leg portions having flat surfaces diverging outwardly relative to a plane disposed medially between said leg portions and also diverging relative to the longitudinal axis of said member, inwardly projecting flanges on said surfaces adjacent the 6 longitudinally divergent end thereof, said flanges constituting keeper rests, said web portion having a recess therein, and said flat surfaces being contiguous with the side walls of said recess.

GEORGE J. GILBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,431,208 Austin Oct. 10, 1922 1,901,727 Borland Mar. 14, 1933 1,912,104 Sunnen May 30, 1933 2,318,866 June May 11, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 324,657 Great Britain Jan. 30, 1930 571,992 Germany Mar. 10, 1932 776,647 France Nov. 8, 1934 

